Where Is All This Basement Moisture Coming From?

A wet basement might seem like nothing more than a nuisance – a minor problem that you’ll have to get fixed someday, but for right now it’s fine to keep it on the back burner. But in your basement, moisture can build rapidly from a variety of sources, causing problems that are hard to see, but that have the potential to cause serious damage to your home and health.

Condensation

If you’re lucky, most of your basement moisture is simply a result of the fact that your basement is essentially a cold room surrounded on all sides by mud and dirt. If you’ve ever tried to hang clothes to dry in your basement, and moisture thwarted you, you’re aware of this possibility. A good way to find out if your basement moisture is the result of condensation is to tape a piece of aluminum foil to the wall, sealing it on all sides. After a few days, look at it again. If the outside of the foil is wet but the side facing the wall is dry, it’s a good bet your basement is more humid than it should be. A good dehumidifier can solve this problem easily.

Poor or Negative Grading

If the ground around your home slopes severely in one direction, or worse, your house is at the bottom of more than one slope, your basement is at greater risk of flooding or attracting moisture. You may be able to solve this by landscaping if the grade isn’t severe (or if you find a very creative landscaper). But ultimately this is a basement moisture problem, and a basement waterproofing contractor can advise you on a proper solution.

Poor Sub-Surface Drainage

If water is pooling around your foundation, it may cause leaks over time. Proper drainage of rainwater from your front and back yards can potentially solve a much more hazardous and costly problem down the line. A simple French drain or exterior gravity system – both are methods of carrying water away from your foundation – can solve this problem.

Defective Rain Gutters

Your rain gutters may be causing basement moisture by creating pools of water around your foundation, which can damage it over time. If your gutters don’t have downspouts that lead the water away from your foundation, it’s actually worse than having no gutters at all. Without downspouts, gutters can deposit water in just one spot, gradually digging a hole that fills against your foundation. As the water rests against the concrete, it causes cracks and weaknesses.

Poorly Designed Window Wells

Window wells are like drains, right next to the basement walls. A properly designed window well should direct water away from the foundation rather than toward it. If your window wells are poorly designed and causing excessive basement moisture, a good basement waterproofing company can redesign them to better divert rainwater.

Rightway Waterproofing serves clients with basement waterproofing, basement remodeling and mold remediation needs in throughout the Delaware Valley, in Philadelphia, Delaware and New Jersey, throughout Bucks County, Montgomery County, Chester County, Burlington County, Mercer County and Delaware County, including Langhorne, Newtown, Yardley, Bensalem, Warminster, Morrisville, Lower Makefield, Trenton, Newark, Wilmington, King of Prussia, Newtown Square, the Main Line and Bala Cynwyd.

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Hear What Our Customers Are Saying!

“We wanted to thank you for your personal and specialized attention to the water problem we had in our basement. You took the time to inspect the whole situation and gave us recommendations, all of which worked. You had a way of explaining the process and materials that would be used in a way that we understood. We are very pleased with the work that was done and would highly recommend your company to anyone.”

-John and Barbara Vicich

“The day after Hurricane Irene, all of my neighbors basements were filled with water, while mine remained dry! It is wonderful, everything remains dry and the battery backup worked beautifully when my power was out for 2 days. Dry AND quiet, thank you, thank you! Thanks! Debbie, Berwyn”

-Debbie, Berwyn

“All I have to say is that Hurricane Irene was no match for the job that Rightway did for my basement and my father-in-law’s. I had my basement done 5 years ago and we are still bone dry and my father-inlaw’s was done last year and another dry basement… Great job! I highly recommend them for waterproofing and mold remediation.”

-Doug Smith, Glenside

“I’d highly recommend these guys for your basement. My basement has been dry since they installed a sump pump and French drain in June. They offer a competitive price, they get the job done quickly and they stand by their work. Please mention my name if you proceed down the road with these guys.”

-Luke

“We had our basement waterproofed with Rightway Waterproofing in 2007, after all this time and just getting through Hurricane Irene, we did not get a drop of water in our basement. Rightway Waterproofing did a very good job and we are very satisfied!”